Sorry, I can't agree. The P-51D is just as potent, if not more so, in this game. The fact that you like it and it is your baby doesn't excuse it from the discussion. It has far more kills and a better K/D ratio than the Spitfire Mk XVI every tour and you and not just hand wave that away.
When I have looked at k/d numbers in the past, the P-51D and Spit were very close, so close I wouldn't be surprised if they change places in the standing some tours. Also, one can expect that an airplane which is often upped from a vulched field will have a lower k/d than one which is usually not upped for base defense, and is often flown in a very, uh, "conservative" manner.
Considering how often it is used by lemmings, and that it is 344mph airplane to the P-51's 368, the fact that the SpitXVI has a k/d about as good as the 51's every tour is actually pretty amazing and a testament to its effectiveness in the average MA player's hands.
The problem of using either popularity or k/d as a criteria has been discussed at length. By k/d, the P-38J is superior to the P-38L and most of the other rides in the MA. In contrast, by usage, the silver 38 is superior to its olive drab stablemate.
These numbers are subject to player whims and trends that have nothing to do with performance, and are thus meaningless.
For me it would be better if the Spitfire Mk XVI were perked, but I think it would be worse for the game.
Why would lightly perking one specific ride
worsen for overall gameplay to any extent? In my view, not only would the game be better for you and and your Mosquito, but it would be a substantially better environment for a whole host of rides which are somewhat "middle of the road" along the speed/maneuverability spectrum which are currently out-run by the spit-horde, while also being ridiculously out-turned, out-climbed, and out-rolled by by that type, making the not particularly viable in the LW MA. The Late War bnz speed demons everyone loves to hate, are, by contrast, not so much effected by the spixteen, they can just out-run it.
I cannot understand why it is considered such a travesty to use the perk system on fighter aircraft in the game. I don't GV much, but at least half the available tanks are currently perked to level the playing field, are they not? Hell, I would go along with lightly perking the bloody P-51D, even though I think that is ridiculous given that aircraft's all-around performance, if it also got the Spixteen a price tag.